BLOG
Art Beat Blog: Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19
Photo Credit: Avi Loud
Check out City of Seattle’s Art Beat article titled "Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19" written by Erika Lindsay featuring Totem Star Artists Totem Star Co-Founder Daniel Pak.
The article highlights Pak's history, how he came to stating Totem Star, and also discusses his work with Kore Ionz including their latest video release "Superhero."
Below is a snippet of the Crosscut article by JaLynn Montes:
"Daniel Pak has been making music for the good part of his 37 years on the planet. While on hiatus from his studies in metallurgical engineering and on a visit with friends, he had an epiphany: music was meant to be the center of his life’s work.
He was feeling 'sick and tired of seeing the status quo,' he says, 'with oppression and violence being so pervasive; it [was] maddening.'
Music, he figured, would connect him 'with like-minded people who really want change to happen.'
So he rejected an attractive offer to work as a high-paid nuclear engineer at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, where Pak was raised. Instead, he chose to pursue a career as an artist, or, as he puts it, 'a culture worker.'"
Check out the entire article at Crosscut.com.
Photos: Summer Kickoff Kicks Off in High Gear Once Again
On Friday, June 15, 2018 we hosted our fourth annual Summer Kickoff youth arts showcase at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Hosted by emcees LIO and Mirabai Kukathas, the showcase featured nearly two hours of songs and poems by some of the dopest and wokest young artists to set foot in our studio. The showcase was also the official release party for the Respect the Vibez mixtape, our third compilation album to date, featuring the recordings of thirty Totem Star artists. Check out these photos from the celebration, which take you from the behind-the-scenes pre-show huddle into the action and lights on the stage.
The Story with Clinton Fearon
Clinton & Some of the Totem Star Crew
Yesterday at The Story, our guest, Clinton Fearon, shared his story for an audience made up of music lovers, young and old. Clinton shared stories of growing up in Jamaica, exploring nature and discovering his love for music.
Clinton shared inspiring words about feeding the soul through arts, music, or whatever makes you happy, whether it is how you make a living or not. At one point, Clinton invited Totem Star youth artist Justus to play for the audience. And at the end of the event, Clinton took the time to listen to Totem Star studio assistant, Matt Sablan's new project.
Clinton Fearon is Always Smiling
Justus & Clinton Post-Guitar Solo
Clinton listening to Matt's new working song
Thaddeus Turner aka Thaddillac In The Seattle Times
Photo Credit: Michael Rietmulder of The Seattle Times
Check out The Seattle Times article entitled "Sea Monster Lounge and 700 Funk keep piece of old Seattle alive" written by Michael Rietmulder featuring Totem Star Co-Founder Thaddeus Turner aka Thaddillac.
Below is a snippet of the article:
"Along with the now-defunct Scarlet Tree and Baltic Room, the 700 Club was part of a local circuit Turner and other musicians played to help pay the bills between tours. It would be another three years, in 2003, before the Sea Monster Lounge opened in Wallingford, filling the funk and soul void. 'The scene just continued and flowed over to the Sea Monster, and the Sea Monster became the hangout,' says McGraw, who used the club to scout future bandmates, including innovative organ boss Delvon Lamarr.
What started as a small, 50-person venue more than quadrupled its capacity after expanding into the neighboring bakery space in 2015.
'To me, Sea Monster’s pretty legendary,' says Tiffany Wilson, the powerhouse soul singer who performs at 700 Funk. She credits Nunez’s background as a singer and songwriter for creating a communal, musician-friendly vibe.
'So often in the music business, you have people directing and running aspects of the music who aren’t actually musically creative,' Wilson says. 'They work primarily on the business side of it, so there isn’t sometimes the empathy and understanding of the artists. That’s what’s really helpful, that Andrew himself is creative musically. He’s creating a space where he himself as a musician thrives.'"
Check out the entire article at seattletimes.com
The Origins of Totem Star
Totem Star's Inaugural JRA program in 2010
Written by Mirabai Jyothi Kukathas
Totem Star is a truly special place. Here young people can make music, learn from one another (as well as from talented teaching artists) and develop a sense of community. Everyone I know involved here has a deep appreciation and love for this space. But how did Totem Star come to be? It didn’t just emerge from the ether fully formed; it was a labor of love to bring this place into reality. So, I asked co-founder Daniel Pak to recount the origin story of Totem Star.
Mirabai: Pak, what were your goals and hopes for Totem Star when you and Thaddeus founded it in 2010?
Pak: Funny thing is we didn’t even know it was going to be Totem Star when it all started. The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) called in 2010 about doing a two-month summer work training program with ten young people who were just released from detention. We started with ten and ended with ten, which just shows how consistent engagement can do wonders for young people who want to express themselves through music and the arts. I think we called the program Making The Band, or Bars & Beats, or something like that. Not one month after our program ended, we found out that half the group got locked up again. And then we lost one of the leaders of the group. And that’s when we realized this was our calling. We had to ensure that young people had a safe and encouraging place to go to make music and find a creative sanctuary away from the chaos of the streets. So we started applying for grants, and amazingly we were awarded funding, and that’s when we realized we were developing an organization. That’s when Totem Star was born.
M: What kind of challenges did you face when bringing Totem Star into reality?
P: Funding and space have always been the biggest challenges. Without funds we can’t keep the studio open, and even when we have funds, where is the studio going to be? For the first four years we were strictly a mobile operation. We packed our recording studio into a suitcase and lugged it all over the city, from Rainier Community Center to the Northwest African American Museum to the Metrocenter YMCA down to YouthSource in Renton. When our program partners asked what kind of technical support we needed we said we just need a room, a table, and a power outlet. We’d set up the rest and BOOM! - recording studio! Then another challenge arose - we realized that because we had so many different program partners with different pools of young people, we’d see this group of young people for six weeks, develop amazing relationships with them, run out of funding, and then it was "good bye, have a good life" and that never felt good. That’s when we realized this mobile operation wasn’t working and we needed something more sustainable. That’s when we talked to David Bestock at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and he gave us the keys to the recording studio there, and that’s where we’ve been since 2013. Our humble studio has transformed into a hub for young recording artists and we are full every day of the week with motivated artists making incredible music and building a strong community of voices in the process. Though we are thriving as a community today, funding and space remain our greatest challenges, as constant fundraising is the only way to keep the studio open, coupled with the fact that our current studio space is far too small for the number of youth who come in. We need our own building, with multiple studio rooms for our artists, our own performance space, and an artist lounge where young people can gather and relax in a creative environment.
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
M: Totem Star constantly evolves and changes, but when did you first feel like Totem Star found its groove or that you started to feel more at ease running it?
P: Totem Star definitely found its groove (and a home) when we made the move to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in 2013. To be welcomed as a tenant organization and as part of the amazing arts community there is such a big deal. Young people come from all over the city and from as far as Shoreline, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, and Tacoma for The Studio and The Stage. The family vibe in the studio is always warm and uplifting. And in 2015, we received a major gift - an email from Paul Laughlin who was moving to Seattle to pursue his MPA at the University of Washington. He was asking about a possible summer internship and after a wonderful meeting with him, we onboarded him as a development intern. Paul changed everything for us. He started writing grants, helping develop infrastructure around our development strategy, began helping with programming, handling administrative tasks, organizing our board, and so much more. Today he is our Director of Development and Operations and constantly pushes us forward. I am certain that we would not be where we are today had we not received that email from Paul back in 2015. He’s the ultimate game changer, and to answer your question, we are all more at ease because of him!
M: What are the biggest changes Totem Star has undergone in these past 8 years?
P: I would say other than the move to Youngstown and the addition of Paul as part of our team, the biggest change is the number of diverse young people who find out about Totem Star and want to get involved. We get inquiries every week, which is humbling and overwhelming at the same time. If we had a bigger space and more hours to keep the studio open, everything would be better. We are always under pressure to fit in as many young people into the studio as possible, sometimes having to physically move our workstations to other locations that open up in the building so that more young people can work on their projects. The word on the streets about Totem Star is spreading, and more young people are finding out about Totem Star and wanting to get involved. There is a huge need, which very much reflects the state of how educational institutions are not able to provide music and arts to all young people, especially those from communities with less resources. Once again, there are young people coming from as far as Bothell and Tacoma to get in the studio. What does that tell us about the arts education and opportunity gap for young people? This heightened attention to our programs has definitely brought in more press and recognition by larger organizations, foundations, and even the Seattle Music Commission. All of that attention is great, but at the end of the day, the biggest change that we need to see is more funding, or else this all could go away.
M: What about Totem Star do you most wish you had access to when you were in high school?
P: Mentors. Positive adult role models who really care. Mentors who live and breathe social justice just as much as they do compression and equalization. I never really had a mentor when I was in high school. And maybe that was my fault for not reaching out. And as an adult, I’m always looking for mentors. Embracing fear and vulnerability is the only way we can grow. And mentors always seem to help make it easier to understand.
ALLI 2017
L to R: LIO, Mirabai Kukathas, Zora Seboulisa, Monica Elenes, and Daniel Pak. Photo Credit: Amy Piñon
Written by Mirabai Jyothi Kukathas
The first week of July 2017 was one of the best weeks of my life. Totem Star, Youth Speaks, and our awesome mutual sponsor Arts Corps put on the Arts Leadership Liberation Institute (ALLI) for the second year running. ALLI is a weeklong art intensive for poets, musicians, and visual artists. We spent the week building community, partaking in social justice-related workshops, and creating pieces of art to share at the end of the week.
When I applied to ALLI, I didn’t think I would actually get in. I knew some of the people involved and didn’t think I was accomplished enough to spend a week with such talented artists. When I did get in, I was both excited and incredibly nervous. However, my nerves melted away almost as soon as I walked into Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where ALLI was held. One thing that cannot be said enough about the Youthspeaks/Totem Star family is how kind and welcoming it is.
We spent the majority of the first day getting to know one another. We began with everyone putting an object of emotional value in the center of the circle we sat in, summing up the object’s significance in one or two words. We went back around the circle and everyone took an object that symbolized something they needed more of in their lives. I put in a statue of the goddess Saraswati, symbolizing ancestry and inspiration, and took a picture which represented resiliance. At the end we gave the items back to their owners, thanking them for the characteristics they embodied. It was so nice to fill up the room with love and strength, and doing so really set the tone for the supportive environment of ALLI.
LIO wows the crowd with her poetry. Photo credit: Amy Piñon.
For the rest of the week we’d spend the mornings together, still getting to know each other, learning about outreach and organization, and even taking a workshop led by Anakbayan. In the afternoon we would divide into our three pathways (spoken-word poetry, music, and visual art) and get working on our pieces. I loved catching glimpses of half-finished paintings and hearing snippets of poems when I popped out into the hall. The whole place seemed alive with art and excitement.
During the course of the week, my friend Zora and I wrote a song. It started off as just a baseline and a short poem of hers, but together we expanded the lyrics and wrote a melody. For the most part she did the lyrics and I did the melody, but worked together for the entire process, bouncing ideas off each other and getting excited after our eureka moments. At the end of the week we had created something I was really proud of, something I never thought I’d be able to to do. For me, that was the best part about ALLI: doing something I never thought I could. Proving myself wrong. Gaining some confidence.
The song-writing process. L to R: Zora and Mirabai. Photo credit: Amy Piñon.
At the end of the week we put on a block party, open mic, and showcase. A bunch of people from the community showed up (some even brought food!), got to know each other, performed at the open mic, and partook in the general awesomeness. The showcase itself was electric; I could not believe everyone created what they did in just five days. It’d been a long time since I’d performed in front of people, but when I was singing up there everything felt right. I owe a lot to ALLI for getting me into the Youth Speaks/Totem Star community, building my confidence and skills, and for a truly amazing week I will never forget.
To see more ALLI stories, click here.
To see all performances from the ALLI showcase, click here
Daniel Pak In Crosscut
“You have to keep it in the positive no matter what,” Pak says. “Reggae is a music of healing — it was created to uplift the community.”
Photo Credit: Nick Turner
Check out the Crosscut article entitled "Reggae Artist Supports Youth Through Music" written by JaLynn Montes featuring Totem Star Co-Founder Daniel Pak.
The article highlights Pak's history, how he came to stating Totem Star, and also discusses his work with Kore Ionz including their latest video release "Superhero."
Below is a snippet of the Crosscut article by JaLynn Montes:
"Daniel Pak has been making music for the good part of his 37 years on the planet. While on hiatus from his studies in metallurgical engineering and on a visit with friends, he had an epiphany: music was meant to be the center of his life’s work.
He was feeling 'sick and tired of seeing the status quo,' he says, 'with oppression and violence being so pervasive; it [was] maddening.'
Music, he figured, would connect him 'with like-minded people who really want change to happen.'
So he rejected an attractive offer to work as a high-paid nuclear engineer at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, where Pak was raised. Instead, he chose to pursue a career as an artist, or, as he puts it, 'a culture worker.'"
Check out the entire article at Crosscut.com.
House Party 4
Close To The Sun. Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 4 was lit!!! We were a little hesitant to do it during spring break, but the stars aligned and the room was packed! The sign up sheet was completely full within 20 minutes of doors opening, thanks to the incredible Monica Elenes (Hip Hop Artist Residency), who got all of the performers got on stage. Politically-charged rapper ZAG rocked his new single "Ahmed," which he premiered at More Music at The Moore. Lashaunycee surprised us with a new song called "Someday Maybe," with beautiful melodic hooks (she needs to bring a choir next time) intermingling with her introspective rap verses. Joseph sang a beautiful cover of CNCO's "Tan Fácil." And to close it out, Close To The Sun put on a dance party that got everyone out of their seats (and even flat on the floor). Big thanks to DJ Funky Fresh Fernando for setting a great vibe and keeping the energy high between sets. Incredible night of music. If you missed it, don't worry, House Party 5 is coming your way in early May - stay tuned!
ZAG. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Joseph. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 3
The House Party is always one of our most popular events. Our name for an open mic, a House Party is where you'll see a singer-songwriter taking risks and trying out that new song they've been working on or a rapper freestyling a verse to a beat played by a band who all just met for the first time. Collaboration and improvisation are always welcomed at a House Party! In fact, at House Party 3 in February, two parents got our of their seats and performed a song together, with co-founders Daniel Pak and Thaddeus Turner holding it down on drums and bass (anyone got a video of that performance?). The coolest thing about a House Party is to see a diverse group of folks from different neighborhoods coming together to celebrate youth voice, creativity, and community building at its finest. All through music!
House Party 4 will be on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Doors open and sign ups start at 5:30pm, and the open mic runs from 6-8pm. Light snacks and refreshments provided. All ages welcome, and as always, every House Party is free to the general public thanks to our partnership with 4Culture, Office of Arts & Culture, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
The Story With Prometheus Brown
For the second installment of The Story this year, we are excited to welcome Prometheus Brown aka Geologic aka one-half of Blue Scholars to the Totem Star studio for an intimate storytelling hour.
Join us on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 4-5pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for The Story with Prometheus Brown. Event is free and all ages. Space is very limited. Light snacks and refreshments will be served at 3:30pm.
Presented by Totem Star in partnership with Arts Corps, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Jubilation Foundation, and Satterberg Foundation.
#TheStory
House Party
17 youth performers and an audience of 60 came out for the first House Party of the year on February 5. The open mic at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center started out with individual acts, including producer/rappers Hirschurmouth and Jaws, singers Ramsey Tall and Zoë Roberts, DJ Close To The Sun, singer/songwriters Soulchild Elle and Alison Cohen, and more. Towards the end, all of the performers took to the stage in various combinations to close out the night with improvised jam sessions of dynamic proportions.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor Arts Corps and partners Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Jubilation Foundation, and the Satterberg Foundation.
#HouseParty
Zoë Roberts
Jaws
Jacob Martin, Griffin Ryden, Noah Predko, Brian Hirsch, and Zoë Roberts
Brian Hirsch, Noah Predko, Griffin Ryden, Robby Little, and Wyatt Carloc
Ramsey Tall
The Story With Cat Harris-White
Prepare for a treat! For the first installment of The Story this year, we are stoked to welcome Catherine Harris-White aka Sassy Black aka one-half of THEESatisfaction to the Totem Star studio for an intimate storytelling hour.
On her Bandcamp page she explains, “Blackness breeds light. I beam the light of day and boast the lust of night. I been. Been. I have been. I have existed. I still exist. In my many lives I explore the concepts of art, music and design through patterns. My craft reflects such experimentation through music compilation and composition. I am.”
Join us on Friday, February 19, 2016 from 4-5pm in our recording studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for The Story with Cat Harris-White. Event is free and all ages! Send an email tototemstarrecords@gmail.com to RSVP. Space is limited! Light snacks and refreshments will be served at 3:30pm.
#TheStory
Video: Winter Magic
Nothing captures the magic of The Stage like being there to witness it in person, but if you missed the last one, check out this beautiful sizzle reel of the Winter Magic youth arts showcase shot and produced by Darien Brown! Features the instrumental for “M.O.M.” produced by Totem Star alumna Shakur Washington!
Special thanks to our partners and supporters Arts Corps, the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, the Jubilation Foundation, the Satterberg Foundation, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Photos: Winter Magic
4 bands, 5 rappers, a dance crew, a DJ, 5 poets, and 6 singers lit up the amphitheater stage at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on December 4, 2015 for the second annual Winter Magic youth arts showcase. Totem Star produces quarterly showcases, this time around through a partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Arts Corps, Youth Speaks Seattle, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. All photos by Paul Laughlin.
Justus White
Torren Anderson
The Rush
Close To The Sun
Samone Thomas
The Black Tone
The BCs
Winter Magic
Winter Magic is Friday, December 4th! Don’t miss an incredible evening of youth performances, including music, dance, poetry, and more! The youth arts showcase will be in the Amphitheater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center from 5-8pm and is free to the general public.
Powered by partnerships with the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Arts Corps, Youth Speaks Seattle, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Talk Story Series 3
We have a super special Talk Story series coming up on Monday! Don’t miss Owuor Arunga and Greg Kramer, horn players for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, live and direct for an intimate interview in the Totem Star recording studio.
What was it like to be on The Heist tour? What did it take to get the gig? What other big projects are you working on? Come talk story with two of Seattle’s most exciting stage performers, who will speak on their come up, challenges they’ve faced along the way, and how they maintain their rigorous life on the road.
Talk Story #3 with Owuor Arunga and Greg Kramer goes down 4-5pm on Monday, November 16, 2015 in the Totem Star recording studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This is the third installment of the monthly Talk Story series sponsored by the Office of Arts & Culture. Always free, all ages, and always very limited seating!
Talk Story Series 2
Join us for the second installment of our new Talk Story series, this time around with Tendai Maraire of Chimurenga Renaissance and Shabazz Palaces. Special guest facilitator Christina Nguyen of Youth Speaks will lead an intimate interview as we learn about his come up as an artist, challenges he’s faced along the way, and how he navigates the music industry. As always, the event is free and all ages, withextremely limited seating in our recording studio here at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Powered by the Office of Arts & Culture.
#YouthArts
Talk Story Series 1
Join us today for the very first of our pilot Talk Story series, featuring intimate in-studio interviews with guest artists and music industry professionals. Kicking off the series is 2014 Sound Off! winner Otieno Terry and his manager and music director Max Levin, who will be talking about their come up, challenges they’ve faced thus far, and how they continue to navigate the illusive music industry.
Event runs from 4-5pm in the Totem Star recording studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Free and all-ages. Limited seating. Sponsored by the Office of Arts & Culture.